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[Poems by Cary in] The psalms of life

acompilation of psalms, hymns, chants, anthems, &c. embodying the spiritual, progressive and reformatory sentiment of the present age
Cary, Phoebe (1824-1871)

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A Child's Path.—
 
Hymn of the Hopeful.—

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26

A Child's Path.—

[_]

The following poem is scored for music in the source text.

PHOEBE CAREY.

1

With sunshine always on his face,
Fairer to us than summer flowers,
How sank our trembling hearts to see
His pathway turning off from ours;

2

As one on whom we dared not look,
So strange and chilling was his grasp,
Took solemnly his childish hand,
And pushed our fingers from his clasp;

3

And led his half reluctant feet
Along the common way for all,
Down softly toward that open gate,
Set in life's farthest boundary wall!

4

But, when we saw the portal gained,
Ne'er folded back for death or sin,
The shadow which had led him on
Shrank back, afraid to enter in.

5

And the sweet child, no more alarmed,
But turning from us smilingly,
Gave trustingly his little hand
To One our dim faith scarce could see.

6

And, O, how much it soothed our grief,
To know that loving hands as ours
Would gently lead his feet about
Over the heavenly hills of flowers!
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